We are a local history museum, focusing on City and regional history. We have special collections pertaining to railroads, music, and aircraft. The Carnegie Museum is housed in Roseville's first permanent library. The building was constructed in 1912 with Lincoln-made brick and terra cotta from Gladding McBean, Rocklin-granite and Roseville-labor on land donated by A.B. McRae. This library, like many others built during the early part of the century, was funded in part by Andrew Carnegie. In 1979, Roseville moved its main library to a new location near Royer Park. In addition to exhibits and information on the history of Roseville and the surrounding area, the Carnegie Museum offers a walking tour of historic old town Roseville based on a self guided tour created by the Roseville Chamber of Commerce Revitalization Committee for visitors, new residence to our area, and long-time inhabitants seeking a re-acquaintance with the past.

To preserve, protect,and promote the rich history of Roseville,Ca.

In the early 1980s the old Carnegie Library building in Roseville,Ca was potentially slated for a very different purpose and there was rumored discussion that the land the building stood upon was to be turned into a parking lot. But then, something extraordinary happened. During a meeting where the building’s fate was to be decided, a relative of the pioneer McRae family spoke to the group. It seemed, she said, that since the city was no longer going to use the land that her family donated for library purposes, that she would be expecting to take her land back. The McRae family had indeed donated the land with a caveat; the land, with the Carnegie Library built upon it, was to be used as a library in perpetuity.

The original deed was verified and the old building was saved. But it needed restoration and a purpose. The good citizens of Roseville banded together and formed “The Roseville Historical Society” with the purpose of preserving and protecting the history of Roseville. Together with the city, funds were raised for restoration and the venerable old building was once again a library but with the new focus of educating people about the history of Roseville. In effect, it became the “Carnegie Library Museum."